Low voltage illuminated sign insignia



April 29, 1969 PARSON ET AL 3,440,749

LOW VOLTAGE ILLUMINATED SIGN INSIGNIA Filed Feb. 28, 1967 INVENTORSZ RALPH D. PfiPSO/V EDW/N R. Cd/FTO/V JOHN P. J'ONZ United States Patent US. Cl. 40130 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dimensionally stable, self-supporting, low voltage illuminable insignia that may be mounted either on a wall, or in an elevated position above a supporting surface in combination with other of said insignia to define a sign.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention A dimensionally stable sign insignia either in the form of a letter of an alphabet, or a number, or groups thereof, of sufficient rigidity as to be self-supporting, which when electrically energized are illuminated to the extent to be readily visible in full daylight.

Description of the prior art The use of illuminated signs is, of course, quite old, and many forms thereof have been devised and used to a substantial extent in the past, in which incandescent bulbs are arranged in patterns to spell out words to convey a desired message to the viewing public, or with the bulbs being disposed in a box that is partially defined by a translucent panel on which a predetermined message is imprinted. The insignia imprinted on the panel are either opaque or translucent, and of a color that contracts drastically with that of the panel when the latter is illuminated.

Signs of the type described are expensive to manufacture, heavy, bulky, and cumbersome to install, and due to the substantial weight thereof require the use of expensive supporting structure therefor, whether from a wall or in another desired location. Prior signs of the type above described, are also expensive due to the substantial amount of sheet metal work and wiring involved in the manufacture thereof. This expense is further amplified by the fact that the major portions of such signs available heretofore have been custombuilt for a particular installation, whereby they are not susceptible of mass production. The majority of such signs are supplied with domestic electric current above 55 volts, and therefore must be installed by licensed electricans in accordance with local electrical installation codes, which further increases the cost of installation.

The present invention is directed to a dimensionally stable, self-supporting, low voltage, illuminable letter or numeral, or the like, that is lightweight, self-contained, and may be arranged with other insignia of the same structure on a wall or in an upright position above a supporting surface to define a sequence of words conveying a predetermined message to the viewing public. Such installations are adapted to be made by individuals or sign companies without the use of licensed electricans, for in general, whether singly or in group arrangement, such insignia will operate on 12 to 28 volts, stepped down from the normally available 110 to 220 volt domestic electric current.

A primary object of the invention is to supply lightweight, dimensionally stable, self-supporting and selfcontained illuminable insignia adapted to be actuated by low voltage electric current, and as such, overcome the "ice disadvantages of the illuminable signs available heretofore.

Another object of the invention is to provide low voltage illuminable insignia available for purchase in different sizes and styles, with the installation thereof merely involving the positioning of the insignia, whether singly or in group arrangement, to define desired messages on a supporting wall or other support at relatively low cost inasmuch as no supporting boxes, frames, or structures are required in the installation of the illuminated letters or numerals.

A still further object of the invention is to provide low voltage illuminable insignia that are of rugged construction, may be easily formed in any desired size or configuration, require little or no maintenance attention, and may be easily moved from one location to another with relative ease.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a number of the low voltage illuminable insignia mounted on a section of a wall structure;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of a number of the low voltage illuminable insignia mounted on a supporting surface and extending upwardly therefrom;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of one of the low voltage sign insignia in the form of a letter A;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the insignia shown in FIGURE 3, taken on line 44 thereof;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion of one of the insignia, taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a combined enlarged transverse crosssectional and top plan view of a portion of one of the illuminable insignia, taken on line 66 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional and bottom plan view of a portion of one of the illuminable insignia, taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an alternate form of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 it will be seen that the insignia 10 of the present invention are dimensionally stable, self-supporting, and illuminable characters, which could be either a letter of the alphabet or a numeral, or a group thereof. The insignia 10 are formed as distinct, self-contained integral units that may be arranged in groups to spell out a word when mounted on a wall 12, or in an upwardly extending position on a support 14, as illustrated in FIG. 2

Each of the insignia 10, whether in the form of a letter or numeral are of the same specific structure, and include a base 16 formed from a sheet of electrical insulating material, preferably wood. The base 16 is, of course, in the shape of the particular insignia used therewith, be it -a letter or numeral, of which it is to form a part. A number of spaced tapped bores 18 are formed in base 16.

First and second sheets of an electrical conducting material 20 and 22, respectively, such as aluminum, are bonded by conventional means to opposite sides of base 16, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. A number of spaced openings 20a and 22:: are formed in sheets 20 and 22, respectively, that are slightly greater in transverse cross section than that of bores 18 and are in transverse alignment therewith.

Incandescent lamps L of the type including a bulb 24, a cylindrical base 26, a first contact 28 on that end of the base most remote from the bulb, and a second flange contact 30 projecting from the base are used to illuminate the insignia 10, as shown in FIG. 5. The lamps L operate on low voltage, preferably twelve volts. Such voltage will normally be provided by stepping down a domestic electrical supply by conventional transformer means (not shown).

A number of lamp holders M are provided that are preferably injection molded from a suitable commercially available resin. Each lamp holder M includes a cylindrical shell 32 on the outer surface of which threads 34 are defined, with the shell having a transverse opening 36 formed therein adjacent a first end 32a thereof. A circular head 37 is affixed to or formed as an integral part of the first end 32a (FIG. or molded as a part thereof.

A first electrical conductor 38 is associated with each lamp holder M that serves to electrically connect first contact 28 to first sheet 20. Conductor 38 is formed from a resilient electrical conducting sheet which is shaped to include a tab 38a, central portion 38b, and leg 380. The leg 380 is doubled back over the central portion 38b, as may be seen in FIG. 5. Each conductor 38 is disposed in one of the lamp holders M, with the central portion 38b resting on the interior surface of head 37, with the tab 38a extending through and beyond the opening 36. When one of the lamp holders M is tightened in one of the tapped bores 18, the tab 38a contacts the first sheet 20 and completes a part of a circuit to one of the lamps L clue to engagement between leg 38c and first contact 28 of the lamp.

A number of lamp sockets N are also provided, the detailed structure of one of which is shown in FIG. 5. Each socket N includes a cylindrical shell 40 having threads 42 formed on the exterior surface thereof, with the diameter of the shell being such that the threads 42 may engage an end portion of one of the tapped bores 18 adjacent second sheet 22.

A ring 44 is affixed to that end of each socket N most adjacent the second sheet 22, or is formed as an integral part thereof, which ring is provided with outwardly and inwardly extending portions 44a and 4412, respectively. A transverse opening 46 is formed in each of the shells 40 adjacent the ring 44, as shown in FIG. 5. The lamp sockets N are preferably injection molded from a suitable commercially available resin. A second electrical conductor 48 is associated with each of the lamp sockets N, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In detailed structure, each second conductor is formed from a metallic sheet material that is a good electrical conductor and shaped to include a ring 48a from which a tab 48b projects outwardly. The tab 48b is adapted to extend through an opening 46 formed under a ring portion 44a, as shown in FIG. 5.

A part of each of the rings 48a (FIG. 6) is situated under one of the ring portions 44b, with the interior surface of each ring portion 44b being engaged by one of the second flanges 30 as the lamp L with which the flange 30 is associated is urged upwardly by leg 38c. Centrally disposed openings 44c are formed in rings 44, and are of such transverse cross section as to permit the bulbs 24 to extend therethrough. When the lamp holders M are rotated and tightened in the tapped bores 18, the ring portions 44a force the tabs 4812 into pressure engagement with the second sheet 22, and second flange contacts 30 are electrically connected to sheets 22.

Each insignia includes a light-transmitting shell 50, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive, that is preferably formed from a translucent polymerized resin. The shells 50 are of the same configuration as the base 16 with which they are associated, and include a convex-concave portion 50a (FIG. 4), from which straight sidewall portions 50b project. The portions 50b are bonded by conventional means, such as epoxy resin, or the like, to the upper edge surfaces of the second sheet 22, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The first and second sheets and 22, respectively, are connected by electrical conductors 20b and 22b to a source of low voltage electric power 52, which is conventionally supplied by stepping down the voltage of a domestic electric power supply by a transformer (not shown).

From the above description it will be seen that each of the insignia 10 is an integral, self-contained unit and as such, may be mounted by conventional means on a fiat surface 12, such as the side of a building or the like, or may rest on a supporting surface 14 in an upwardly extending position, as shown in FIG. 2. The means for so mounting the insignia 10 are considered to be conventional in nature, and accordingly need not be described in detail. The exterior surface of second sheet 22 is preferably coated with a light-reflecting film 0, Flat white paint has been found to be satisfactory to define film O, which reflects and diffuses light from the lamps L to the extent that zones of high light intensity are avoided. The shells 50, when the insignia 10 are electrically energized, are illuminated with substantially uniform light intensity.

An alternate form 10 of the invention is shown in FIGURE 8 in which a translucent shell 50 is provided that extends downwardly over the base 16' and is in abutting contact with a second cup-shaped plastic shell 50 that envelops the balance of the device.

Parts 20', 22', 50a, 50b, and L are identical to their corresponding un-primed parts shown in FIGURE 4.

A number of spaced openings are formed in shell 50" in which the heads 37 are disposed. Openings are sufliciently large as to permit the heads 37 to be engaged by a hand tool to unscrew the lamp holders M from the bores 18. Shells 50 and 50 are sealed to one another at their abutting edges and to base 16 by conventional means such as an epoxy cement, or the like. The alternate form is not only attractive in appearance, but watertight, and not adversely affected by rain or inclement weather.

We claim:

1. A dimensionally stable, self-supporting illuminable insignia that may be used individually or in groups thereof to convey a visual message to the viewing public, comprising:

(a) a base of sheet electrical insulating material in the form of said insigna through which base a plurality of spaced tapped bores extend;

(b) first and second sheets of electrical conducting material in the form of said insignia bonded to opposite sides of said base, with said sheets having a plurality of first and second openings formed therein of slightly larger cross section than that of said bores with which they are in transverse alignment;

(c) a plurality of low voltage incandescent lamps of the type including bulbs and cylindrical bases, first contacts on the ends of said bases most remote from said bulbs, and second flange contacts that extend transversely from said bases;

((1) a plurality of generally cylindrical externally threaded lamp holders that extend inwardly through said first openings to engage said tapped bores;

(e) first means operatively associated with said lamp holders for electrically connecting said first contacts to said first sheet when cylindrical bases of said lamps are disposed in said bores;

(f) a plurality of generally cylindrical externally threaded lamp sockets that extend inwardly through said second openings to engage said tapped bores, which bulbs of said lamps project outwardly through said sockets;

(g) second means operatively associated with said lamp sockets for electrically connecting said second contacts to said second sheet;

(h) a light-transmitting shell of convex-concave transverse cross section bonded to said base to envelop said lamps; and

(i) third means for supplying low voltage current to said first and second sheets to energize said lamps and illuminate said insignia.

2. An insignia as defined in claim 1 wherein said lamp holders are formed as integral units from a polymerized resin, and each lamp holder includes:

(j) an externally threaded first cylindrical shell having. a transverse opening formed in a first end portion thereof through which one of said first means extends; and

(k) a circular head that closes the end of said first shell most adjacent said opening therein.

3. An insignia as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said first means is fabricated from a sheet of resilient electrical conducting material to include:

(1) a circular portion that rests on the inner surface of said head;

(m) a tab that extends from said central portion through said transverse opening to contact the outer surface of said first sheet; and

(n) a leg that extends outwardly from said central portion and is doubled over thereon to engage one of said first contacts when said lamp holder with which it is associated is fully screwed in one of said tapped bores.

4. An insignia as defined in claim 1 wherein said lamp sockets are formed as integral units from a polymerized resin, and each lamp socket includes:

(j) an externally threaded, first cylindrical shell having a transverse opening formed in a first end portion thereof through which one of said second means extends; and

(k) a first transverse ring mounted on the end of said first shell most adjacent said opening in said second sheet and extending inwardly and outwardly therefrom.

5. An insignia as defined in claim 4 wherein each of said second means is fabricated from a sheet of electrical conducting material to include:

(1) a second ring disposed in said socket that abuts against said first ring and said second contact; and

(m) a tab that extends from said second ring through said opening in said first cylindrical shell to contact the outer surface of said second sheet when said socket with which it is associated is tightened in one of said bores.

6. An insignia =as defined in claim 3 wherein said insignia comprises either a letter of an alphabet or a number, and said shell is translucent.

7. An insignia as defined in claim 5 wherein said insignia comprises either a letter of an alphabet or a numher, and said shell is translucent.

8. An insignia as defined in claim 6 which further includes:

(o) a film of light-reflecting material that covers the outer surface of said second sheet.

9. An insignia as defined in claim 7 which further includes:

(o) a film of light-reflecting material that covers the outer surface of said second sheet.

10. An insignia as defined in claim .8 wherein said film is a flat white paint.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,091,916 3/1914 Deschere -130 2,702,340 2/1955 Thieblot 2408.16 X 2,838,865 6/1958 Hardesty 40130 3,096,942 7/1963 Madansky 40-130 X 3,154,251 10/1964- Dupree et al 2408.16

FOREIGN PATENTS 298,082 6/1929 Great Britain.

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner.

R. CARTER, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 339-17 

